Gamesa, a global technology leader in wind energy, has entered a new market: Jamaica. Specifically, the company has signed a contract with Wigton Windfarm Limited – a subsidiary of the energy company, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica – for the turnkey construction of the Wigton III wind farm, for a new installed capacity of 24 MW.

Gamesa will install 12 of its G80-2.0 MW wind turbines at the Wigton III facility being built in Manchester, to the south of the island. The turbines are due to be delivered during the third quarter of this year and the facility is slated for commissioning by February 2016.

At present, renewable energy sources account for roughly 9% of Jamaica’s electricity mix. Under the country’s National Energy Plan for 2009-2030, Jamaica expects the contribution of clean energy to rise to 12.5% of the total energy mix in 2015 and to 20% by 2030.

Gamesa boasts a solid presence in the Caribbean and Central America. In addition to this new market, the company has installed over 200 MW in the region, having developed wind farms in countries such as Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Puerto Rico, where it also performs operations and maintenance services.